According to the Constitutional principle of “separation of powers,” which branch is responsible for drafting laws in the

American government?

Choose one answer.

a. The judicial branch 

b. The executive branch 

c. The legal branch 

d. The legislative branch 

e. The bureaucratic branch 

Question2
According to the Student Study Guide, which of the following is defined as “the legitimate use of force to control human
behavior within specified geographic boundaries”?

Choose one answer.

a. Democracy 

b. Government 

c. Representative republicanism 

d. Bureaucracy 

e. Monarchy 

Question3
Complete the following statement. All of the following principles are protected under the Bill of Rights, EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Separation of church and state 

b. Freedom of the press 

c. Trial by jury of one’s peers 

d. The right to vote for all citizens 

e. The right to bear arms 

Question4
Fill in the blank. The phrase, “We the people,” in the preamble of the Constitution illustrates the Constitutional principle of
___________________.
Choose one answer.

a. Popular sovereignty 

b. Direct election of senators 

c. Democratic republicanism 

d. Confederacy 

e. Socialism 

Question5
In order to strike a balance between states’ rights and federal authority, the government outlined which of the following
under the Constitution?

Choose one answer.

a. Federalism, a system of shared powers between the states and the federal government 

b. Confederalism, a system where power was shared by a loose alliance between the states 

c. Monarchism, a system where absolute power was given to the king 

d. Socialism, a system where all the power was in the hands of individuals 

e. None of the above 

Question6
James Madison’s “Federalist 10” articulated the belief of the founding fathers that the Constitution would do which of the
following?

Choose one answer.

a. Lead to a tyranny of the majority 

b. Promote the growth of political parties 

c. Control the effects of factions 

d. Allow the states to maintain their preeminence 

e. Lead to a tyranny of the minority 

Question7
The concept of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” in Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, can be
traced back to whose writings?

Choose one answer.

 a. Aristotle 

b. Montesquieu 

c. Locke 

d. Rousseau 

e. Hobbes 

Question8
The founding fathers would argue for which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. The fundamental purpose of government is to establish universal suffrage. 

b. The fundamental purpose of government is to equalize economic opportunities for all

citizens. 

c. The fundamental purpose of government is to provide for the defense of the nation. 

d. The fundamental purpose of government is to create a system of public goods and

support the less fortunate. 

e. The fundamental purpose of government is to protect people’s natural rights of life,

liberty, and property. 

Question9
The Great Compromise appeased states with a large population, like Virginia, and states with a small population, like New
Jersey, by doing which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. Establishing the Articles of Confederation 

b. Creating a bicameral legislature, where the number of seats in the lower house was determined
by population, and the number of seats in the upper house was equal among all states 

c. Determining that the New Jersey plan was the best fit for the national government and
provided all states equal number of representatives in Congress 

d. Continuing the practice of states’ rights and limiting the amount of power given to the national
legislature 

e. Determining that 3/5 of a state’s slave population would be counted in determining

representation 

Question10
The presence of interest groups is a fundamental aspect of which type of democracy?

Choose one answer.

a. Pluralist democracy 

b. Elitist democracy 

c. Majoritarian democracy 

d. Republican democracy 

e. Ancient democracy 

Question11
The Reagan Administration and “devolution” in the 1980s and 1990s is best associated with which type of federalism?

Choose one answer.

a. Dual federalism 

b. Cooperative federalism 

c. Competitive federalism 

d. Marble cake federalism 

e. “New” federalism 

Question12
Throughout history, the purpose of government has been to do which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. To maintain order, including preserving life and protecting property 

b. To provide public goods and services 

c. To promote equality thought society 

d. To inflict violence on other nation states 

e. A, B, and C 

Question13
What was the underlying political philosophy of the Articles of Confederation?

Choose one answer.

 a. That the king should remain in power 

b. That the United States should be a monarchy 

c. That the states should have more power than the central government 

d. That the executive branch should hold more power than the legislative branch 

e. That states with a larger population should have more of a say in national politics 

Question14
Which of the following best defines political equality?

Choose one answer.

a. Equality in the political decision-making process: one vote per person, all votes
counted equally 

b. Equality of wealth and material possessions throughout society 

c. Equality of success in all ventures in life 

d. Equality of social status and class; social class mobility, regardless of the class you
are born into 

e. Equality of all political branches to have an impact on society 

Question15
Which of the following best defines political ideology?

Choose one answer.

a. One’s self-interest 

b. A set of beliefs that change from time to time about the scope and purpose of
government 

c. A consistent set of values about the proper role and scope of government 

d. The ability to decide about the dilemma between freedom and order 

e. The political spectrum of beliefs that differ due to the constantly changing political
world 

Question16
Which of the following expresses the general sentiments of Anti-federalists regarding the Constitution?

Choose one answer.

 a. Anti-federalists insisted in a stronger central government. 

b. Anti-federalists feared that foreign governments would try to overpower the new nation. 

c. Anti-federalists feared that the states would maintain their dominance under the new
government. 

d. Anti-federalists believed that a strong chief executive was necessary. 

e. Anti-federalists feared the power of a strong central government and wanted to see a bill of
rights added to guarantee the protection of individual rights. 

Question17
Which of the following is a clear example of the Constitutional principle of “checks and balances”?

Choose one answer.

a. The President’s ability to veto a bill passed by Congress 

b. The creation of Congressional committees and subcommittees 

c. The federal government providing grants to states to help build new schools 

d. The ability of both states and the federal government to tax individuals 

e. The Supreme Court’s ability to choose the cases it wants to hear 

Question18
Which of the following political ideologies would support limited government action, unless to protect life, liberty, and
property?

Choose one answer.

a. Socialism 

b. Conservatism 

c. Totalitarianism 

d. Liberalism 

e. Monarchism 

Question19
Which of the following states one way that the United States Constitution differed from the Articles of Confederation?

Choose one answer.

a. The Constitution created a national government having three branches. 

 b. The Constitution provided for the direct election of the president by the voters. 

c. The Constitution made the amendment process more difficult. 

d. The Constitution increased the powers of the states. 

e. The Constitution abolished the federal judiciary system. 

Question20
All of the following are true statements regarding campaign finance in the United States EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Soft-money contributions by political committees have been banned. 

b. Restrictions on independent spending by corporations in elections has been ruled

unconstitutional. 

c. Advocacy groups can spend unlimited amounts of money in federal elections as long as they do
not coordinate with the candidates. 

d. Political action committees can spend unlimited amounts of money in elections on advertising. 

e. Presidential candidates are prohibited from using taxpayer money to finance their campaigns. 

Which of the following would NOT be considered an example of legislation that has promoted an increase in civil rights?

Choose one answer.

a. 1991 Disabled Americans Act 

b. 1996 Defense of Marriage Act 

c. Title IX 

d. Voting Rights Act of 1965 

e. 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act 

Question81
Appropriations Committees do which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. Decide whether to authorize a federal program 

b. Decide whether to fund federal programs 

 c. Hold hearings on the appropriateness of members’ actions on the House floor 

d. Decide whether to accept the president’s budget proposal 

e. All of the above 

Question82
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. The type of economic system utilized in the United States is ______.

Choose one answer.

a. Capitalism 

b. Socialism 

c. Mutualism 

d. Distributism 

e. Georgism 

Question83
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. The President relies on the ______ to establish the budgets of federal agencies.

Choose one answer.

a. Secretary of the Treasury 

b. Office of Personnel Management 

c. Office of Management and Budget 

d. Independent Regulatory Commission 

e. National Economic Council 

Question84
Fill in the blank. An agreement between the president and a leader of a foreign country that does not have to be ratified by
the Senate is known as a(n) _________________.

Choose one answer.

a. Non-ratified treaty 

b. Executive agreement 

c. Foreign policy agreement 

 d. Presidential approval 

e. Alliance 

Question85
Fill in the blank. The most radical reforms to the welfare system in the United States occurred during the presidency of
________________.

Choose one answer.

a. George W. Bush 

b. William J. Clinton 

c. Franklin D. Roosevelt 

d. Ronald Reagan 

e. Lyndon B. Johnson 

Question86
Fill in the blank. The United States’ policy to stop the spread of communism was known as

Choose one answer.

a. Domino theory 

b. Containment 

c. The Cold War 

d. Non-proliferation 

e. Operation Sputnik 

Question87
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is an example of what type of public policy?

Choose one answer.

a. Social welfare policy 

b. Economic policy 

c. Defense policy 

d. Education policy 
 e. Entitlement spending policy 

Question88
What area of the budget has shown the greatest increase in spending over the past 20 years?

Choose one answer.

a. The defense budget 

b. Executive programs 

c. Entitlement programs 

d. Federal student loan program 

e. Congressional earmarks 

Question89
What is the largest entitlement program in the United States?

Choose one answer.

a. Medicare 

b. Medicaid 

c. Social Security 

d. Temporary Unemployment Insurance 

e. State Children’s Health Insurance Program 

Question90
Which of the following economic theories would advocate for a minimal role of government in economic affairs?

Choose one answer.

a. Laissez-faire doctrine 

b. Keynesian theory 

c. Monetarism 

d. Supply-side economics 

e. Fiscal conservatism 

Question91
Which of the following governmental entities is responsible for regulating and maintaining the U.S. financial system to attain
economic stability and promote growth?

Choose one answer.

a. Federal Trade Commission 

b. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 

c. Securities Exchange Commission 

d. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

e. Federal Reserve Board 

Question92
Which of the following is a significant presidential foreign policy shift taken after September 11, 2001?

Choose one answer.

a. Congress declaring war on Iraq 

b. George W. Bush’s Global War on Terror and “preemptive” doctrine 

c. Using NATO peacekeeping troops to help mend anti-American sentiments 

d. Oil-for-Food Programs 

e. United States participation in NAFTA 

Question93
Which of the following is a social insurance program that provides economic assistance to individuals who are unemployed,
disabled, or elderly?

Choose one answer.

a. TANF 

b. Food stamps 

c. Medicare Part B 

d. Social Security 

e. SCHIP 

Question94
Which of the following occurs first in the development of public policy?

Choose one answer.

 a. Policy enactment 

b. Agenda setting 

c. Policy implementation 

d. Policy evaluation 

e. Policy revision 

Question95
Which of the following plays a role in policy formation?

Choose one answer.

a. Congress 

b. Interest groups and non-profit organizations 

c. The bureaucracy 

d. The president 

e. All of the above 

Question96
Which of the following statements is true of the origins of the modern American welfare state?

Choose one answer.

a. It can be traced back to colonial times. 

b. It is mostly rooted in a Biblical obligation for helping the less fortunate. 

c. It can be traced back to the Great Depression and the New Deal. 

d. It can be traced back to the 1970s Great Society. 

e. It is smaller today than it has ever been in the past. 

Question97
Which of the following would be an example of regulatory policy?

Choose one answer.

a. Federal food stamp programs 

b. Federal highway system 

 c. Safety regulations for the automobile industry 

d. Income tax deductions for charitable contributions 

e. All of the above 

Question98
Which of the following would NOT be considered a key player in creating American foreign policy?

Choose one answer.

a. Non-ratified treaty 

b. Executive agreement 

c. Foreign policy agreement 

d. Presidential approval 

e. Alliance 

f. The Secretary of State 

g. The Secretary of Defense 

h. The President 

i. The National Security Advisor 

j. The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Question99
Which of the following would NOT be considered a social welfare program?

Choose one answer.

a. Medicare 

b. Medicaid 

c. Social Security 

d. Old-Age Survivors Disability Insurance 

e. None of the above 

Question100
Which statement is true about the War Powers Resolution?
Choose one answer.

a. It has been used a number of times to limit the power of the president. 

b. It gave Congress the power to declare war. 

c. It was an attempt of Congress to limit the power of the president to sustain undeclared
wars. 

d. It established the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

e. It provided Congress with the ability to control the amount of American military
presence in United Nation peacekeeping missions. 

Which of the following would NOT be considered an example of legislation that has promoted an increase in civil rights?

Choose one answer.

a. 1991 Disabled Americans Act 

b. 1996 Defense of Marriage Act 

c. Title IX 

d. Voting Rights Act of 1965 

e. 1967 Age Discrimination in Employment Act 

Question81
Appropriations Committees do which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. Decide whether to authorize a federal program 

b. Decide whether to fund federal programs 

c. Hold hearings on the appropriateness of members’ actions on the House floor 

d. Decide whether to accept the president’s budget proposal 

e. All of the above 

Question82
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. The type of economic system utilized in the United States is ______.

Choose one answer.

 a. Capitalism 

b. Socialism 

c. Mutualism 

d. Distributism 

e. Georgism 

Question83
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. The President relies on the ______ to establish the budgets of federal agencies.

Choose one answer.

a. Secretary of the Treasury 

b. Office of Personnel Management 

c. Office of Management and Budget 

d. Independent Regulatory Commission 

e. National Economic Council 

Question84
Fill in the blank. An agreement between the president and a leader of a foreign country that does not have to be ratified by
the Senate is known as a(n) _________________.

Choose one answer.

a. Non-ratified treaty 

b. Executive agreement 

c. Foreign policy agreement 

d. Presidential approval 

e. Alliance 

Question85
Fill in the blank. The most radical reforms to the welfare system in the United States occurred during the presidency of
________________.

Choose one answer.

a. George W. Bush 
 b. William J. Clinton 

c. Franklin D. Roosevelt 

d. Ronald Reagan 

e. Lyndon B. Johnson 

Question86
Fill in the blank. The United States’ policy to stop the spread of communism was known as

Choose one answer.

a. Domino theory 

b. Containment 

c. The Cold War 

d. Non-proliferation 

e. Operation Sputnik 

Question87
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is an example of what type of public policy?

Choose one answer.

a. Social welfare policy 

b. Economic policy 

c. Defense policy 

d. Education policy 

e. Entitlement spending policy 

Question88
What area of the budget has shown the greatest increase in spending over the past 20 years?

Choose one answer.

a. The defense budget 

b. Executive programs 

c. Entitlement programs 
 d. Federal student loan program 

e. Congressional earmarks 

Question89
What is the largest entitlement program in the United States?

Choose one answer.

a. Medicare 

b. Medicaid 

c. Social Security 

d. Temporary Unemployment Insurance 

e. State Children’s Health Insurance Program 

Question90
Which of the following economic theories would advocate for a minimal role of government in economic affairs?

Choose one answer.

a. Laissez-faire doctrine 

b. Keynesian theory 

c. Monetarism 

d. Supply-side economics 

e. Fiscal conservatism 

Question91
Which of the following governmental entities is responsible for regulating and maintaining the U.S. financial system to attain
economic stability and promote growth?

Choose one answer.

a. Federal Trade Commission 

b. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 

c. Securities Exchange Commission 

d. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

 e. Federal Reserve Board 

Question92
Which of the following is a significant presidential foreign policy shift taken after September 11, 2001?

Choose one answer.

a. Congress declaring war on Iraq 

b. George W. Bush’s Global War on Terror and “preemptive” doctrine 

c. Using NATO peacekeeping troops to help mend anti-American sentiments 

d. Oil-for-Food Programs 

e. United States participation in NAFTA 

Question93
Which of the following is a social insurance program that provides economic assistance to individuals who are unemployed,
disabled, or elderly?

Choose one answer.

a. TANF 

b. Food stamps 

c. Medicare Part B 

d. Social Security 

e. SCHIP 

Question94
Which of the following occurs first in the development of public policy?

Choose one answer.

a. Policy enactment 

b. Agenda setting 

c. Policy implementation 

d. Policy evaluation 

e. Policy revision 

Question95
Which of the following plays a role in policy formation?

Choose one answer.

a. Congress 

b. Interest groups and non-profit organizations 

c. The bureaucracy 

d. The president 

e. All of the above 

Question96
Which of the following statements is true of the origins of the modern American welfare state?

Choose one answer.

a. It can be traced back to colonial times. 

b. It is mostly rooted in a Biblical obligation for helping the less fortunate. 

c. It can be traced back to the Great Depression and the New Deal. 

d. It can be traced back to the 1970s Great Society. 

e. It is smaller today than it has ever been in the past. 

Question97
Which of the following would be an example of regulatory policy?

Choose one answer.

a. Federal food stamp programs 

b. Federal highway system 

c. Safety regulations for the automobile industry 

d. Income tax deductions for charitable contributions 

e. All of the above 

Question98
Which of the following would NOT be considered a key player in creating American foreign policy?

Choose one answer.

 a. Non-ratified treaty 

b. Executive agreement 

c. Foreign policy agreement 

d. Presidential approval 

e. Alliance 

f. The Secretary of State 

g. The Secretary of Defense 

h. The President 

i. The National Security Advisor 

j. The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 

Question99
Which of the following would NOT be considered a social welfare program?

Choose one answer.

a. Medicare 

b. Medicaid 

c. Social Security 

d. Old-Age Survivors Disability Insurance 

e. None of the above 

Question100
Which statement is true about the War Powers Resolution?

Choose one answer.

a. It has been used a number of times to limit the power of the president. 

b. It gave Congress the power to declare war. 

c. It was an attempt of Congress to limit the power of the president to sustain undeclared
wars. 
 d. It established the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

e. It provided Congress with the ability to control the amount of American military
presence in United Nation peacekeeping missions. 

All of the following are ways in which new media has impacted the relationship between communication and politics
EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. New media is making more information available and accessible. 

b. New media can aim at specialized audiences. 

c. New media has created “citizen journalists.” 

d. New media, in the form of the “blogosphere,” can hold public officials accountable by
amplifying and spreading information. 

e. More people receive their political news from new media than any other type of mass
media. 

Question22
All of the following have been social movements in the United States EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Abolition 

b. Temperance 

c. Civil rights 

d. Women’s rights 

e. Fair trade 

Question23
All of the following represent a true statement about voting behavior in the United States EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Young voters are less likely than older citizens to turn out in midterm elections. 

b. Turnout varies significantly across geographic locations. 

c. The higher a person’s education level, the less likely they are to vote. 
 d. There has been a steady increase in turnout since the 2000 presidential election. 

e. Voter turnout in presidential elections is generally higher than for lower-level

contests. 

Question24
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. Political scientists refer to the “process by which individuals acquire their political
beliefs, values, and attitudes” as political ________________.

Choose one answer.

a. Rhetoric 

b. Ideology 

c. Culture 

d. Socialization 

e. Apathy 

Question25
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. Political ______ refers to individuals’ perceptions about whether or not they can
influence the political process.

Choose one answer.

a. Efficacy 

b. Legitimacy 

c. Indoctrination 

d. Exceptionalism 

e. Tolerance 

Question26
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. ___________ refers to America’s acceptance and celebration of its cultural
diversity and heritage.

Choose one answer.

a. Sub-culturalism 

b. Political tolerance 

c. Ethnicity 
 d. Multiculturalism 

e. Egalitarianism 

Question27
Criticisms of the presidential election process include all of the following EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Too much attention is paid to early caucuses and primaries. 

b. Money is too big of a factor in the election process. 

c. There is not enough media coverage of the campaign. 

d. Primary voters are not representative of general election voters and therefore should not
have as much of an impact in the nomination process. 

e. The presidential campaign season lasts way too long. 

Question28
Fill in the blank. In a “scientific” poll, the portion of the population selected to participate in a survey is called a
________________.

Choose one answer.

a. Focus group 

b. Sample 

c. Population 

d. Representative population 

e. Public 

Question29
Interest groups play a role in the American political system in all of the following ways, EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Recruiting candidates to run for public office. 

b. Bringing media attention to an issue. 

c. Endorsing candidates for public office. 

d. Testifying at congressional hearings. 

 e. Providing expert information for elected officials and their staff. 

Question30
Political parties serve all of the following functions in the American political system today EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Informing citizens about political issues and proposing alternative government programs. 

b. Coordinating actions of government officials in various branches of government. 

c. Nominating candidates for election to public office. 

d. Deciding which presidential candidate wins the election through the Electoral College. 

e. Requiring people to pay dues if they want to join the party. 

Question31
Which of the following accurately describes what most scholars agree on as the greatest impact that the mass media has on
American politics?

Choose one answer.

a. The ability to set the national agenda 

b. The ability to reveal political scandals to the public 

c. The ability to shape public opinion and political attitudes of the public 

d. The ability to influence electoral outcomes 

e. The ability to serve as an agent of political socialization 

Question32
Which of the following allows voters to directly approve or disapprove a legislative proposal?

Choose one answer.

a. A recall petition 

b. A blanket primary 

c. An indirect primary 

d. A referendum 

e. A run-off primary 

Question33
Which of the following best defines public opinion?

Choose one answer.

a. The distribution of opinions and attitudes held by the public 

b. The political ideology of the mass public 

c. The strongly held political beliefs of individuals within government 

d. The perception that pollsters and politicians have about the general public 

e. All of the above 

Question34
Which of the following is a true statement about the history of political parties in the United States?

Choose one answer.

a. The existence of political parties is mandatory as outlined in the Constitution. 

b. The existence of two parties has always been a part of the American political system. 

c. U.S. election rules support the creation and maintenance of a two-party system. 

d. Democrats and Republicans were the first major political parties in the United States. 

e. The two-party system was in place by 1800. 

Question35
Which of the following is considered to be an important agent of political socialization?

Choose one answer.

a. Family 

b. Friends 

c. The mass media 

d. Schools 

e. All of the above 

Question36
Which of the following is NOT a major change that has occurred to the party system since FDR’s New Deal era?

Choose one answer.

 a. Party loyalty has declined. 

b. Elections have become more candidate-centered rather than party-centered. 

c. National political parties have become more successful and effective in mobilizing voters. 

d. The influence of political parties has diminished. 

e. Party reforms have allowed more average voters to serve as delegates to the national party
nominating conventions. 

Question37
Which of the following would be classified as a mode of political participation in the United States?

Choose one answer.

a. Voting 

b. Making a campaign contribution 

c. Volunteering for a political candidate 

d. Signing a petition 

e. All of the above 

Question38
Which of the following would NOT be considered a core value of American political culture?

Choose one answer.

a. Egalitarianism 

b. Equality of opportunity 

c. Economic equality 

d. Individualism 

e. Rule of law 

Question39
Which statement best describes how the media generally impacts public opinion in the United States?

Choose one answer.

a. The media has no measurable impact on public opinion. 

 b. The media can greatly alter public opinion about an issue. 

c. The media often shapes political attitudes and voting behaviors. 

d. The media is most likely to influence public opinion among those with the lowest
education levels. 

e. Media coverage impacts the issues that the public thinks are most important. 

Question40
According to the Constitution, the structure of the federal court system is to be defined by which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. The Supreme Court 

b. The Congress 

c. The president 

d. The Attorney General 

e. The Chief Justice 

Question41
After both chambers of Congress pass the same version of a bill, the president may take all of the following actions EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Sign the bill into law. 

b. Veto it, sending it back to Congress with a veto message explaining reasons for
rejecting it. 

c. Let it become law after ten working days by not doing anything. 

d. Not sign it after Congress adjourns, exercising the pocket veto. 

e. Send it directly to the Supreme Court for judicial review. 

Question42
As compared to the House of Representatives, the Senate:

Choose one answer.

a. Has more rules. 

b. Garners more media attention. 

 c. Has less time for debate. 

d. Is less flexible. 

e. Is less prestigious. 

Question43
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. When one political party controls Congress and a different party controls the
White House, there exists _________________.

Choose one answer.

a. Pluralism 

b. Divided government 

c. Checks and balances 

d. Separation of powers 

e. Partisan politics 

Question44
Fill in the blank. The committee in the House with the most influence in setting the agenda for debate on the floor is the
_________________.

Choose one answer.

a. Ways and Means Committee 

b. Policy Committee 

c. Appropriations Committee 

d. Rules Committee 

e. Speaker’s Committee 

Question45
Fill in the blank. The courts generally practice ______________, or a general bias for precedents or existing decisions.

Choose one answer.

a. Amicus curiae 

b. Judicial review 

c. Stare decisis 
 d. Tort reform 

e. Senatorial courtesy 

Question46
Historically, which of the following is true of the president’s approval rating?

Choose one answer.

a. The president’s approval rating remains constant throughout his entire tenure in
office. 

b. The president’s approval rating averages around 50% during his first two years in office,
then tends to increase. 

c. The president’s approval rating is highest during the first 100 days in office, the
“honeymoon” period. 

d. The president’s approval rating is lowest during times of war or national crisis. 

e. The president’s approval rating is highest toward the end of his presidency. 

Question47
In general, which of the following captures the policy of most recent presidents in regards to the bureaucracy?

Choose one answer.

a. Support for an increase in bureaucratic power to help implement complex federal

programs. 

b. Increasing budgets to help fund new bureaucratic programs 

c. Reorganizing and decreasing the size of the bureaucratic workforce 

d. Requesting the creation of new bureaucratic agencies and regulations 

e. Ending the power of independent regulatory agencies 

Question48
Redistricting (redrawing) of congressional district lines occurs:

Choose one answer.

a. When there is a significant population shift. 

b. When the state legislature enacts the appropriate provisions. 

c. Every ten years. 

 d. After each major presidential election. 

e. Every two years. 

Question49
The existence of an iron triangle relationship results in which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. Policies are made independently without any influence from Congress. 

b. Policies being made often contradict with the preferences of Congressional committees. 

c. Policies are often not made because of a hostile relationship between Congress and the
bureaucracy. 

d. Policies are made through a cooperative relationship between an interest group, a

bureaucratic agency and Congress. 

e. Policies are often implemented that solely reflect the wishes of the president. 

Question50
What is the main purpose of congressional oversight committees?

Choose one answer.

a. To draft appropriation legislation 

b. To review government operations, especially within the bureaucracy 

c. To hold impeachment hearings 

d. To write constitutional amendments 

e. To regulate the actions of constituents 

Question51
Which of the following cases set the precedent of judicial review?

Choose one answer.

a. Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) 

b. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) 

c. Marbury v. Madison (1803) 

d. McCullough v. Maryland (1819) 

 e. Fletcher v. Peck (1810) 

Question52
Which of the following is a false statement about the United States Senate?

Choose one answer.

a. The 435 seats of the Senate are allocated based on a state’s reported population every ten
years when the U.S. conducts the census. 

b. Senators serve six-year terms. 

c. One-third of the Senate is up for re-election every two years. 

d. Representation in the Senate is equal for every state; each state has two senators. 

e. In the Senate, leadership is less centralized than in the House and floor proceedings tend to
respect “minority rights” more than “majority rule,” as in the House. 

Question53
Which of the following is a true statement about how the judicial nomination process has changed during the end of the
20th century?

Choose one answer.

a. Personal qualities, such as race, ethnicity, and gender, have become important factors
when considering a nominee for the Supreme Court. 

b. Senatorial courtesy has dictated the fate of all potential nominees before they are officially
considered. 

c. Supreme Court nominees are much more likely to be loyal partisan supporters of the
president than they were in the past. 

d. Potential judges must have extensive litigation experience. 

e. The media have played much less of a role in the nomination process than in the past. 

Question54
Which of the following is a true statement about the Supreme Court?

I. The Supreme Court determines its own docket, based on the “rule of four.”
II. The Constitution states that the Supreme Court must have nine justices.
III. The vast majority of cases heard by the Supreme Court are cases of original jurisdiction.
IV. On average, the Supreme Court hears less then one hundred cases per year.

Choose one answer.

a. I only 
 b. II and III only 

c. I and IV only 

d. I, II, and III only 

e. I, II, III, and IV 

Question55
Which of the following is a true statement regarding the media and the Supreme Court?

Choose one answer.

a. Media coverage of the court’s activities is limited. 

b. Most of the court’s decisions receive widespread media coverage. 

c. Coverage of the court is often oversimplified. 

d. A and C 

e. Cameras are allowed in the Supreme Court during public sessions. 

Question56
Which of the following is considered a delegated constitutional power of the president?

Choose one answer.

a. Commander and chief of the armed forces 

b. Head of state 

c. Making appointments of ambassadors 

d. Signing treaties with foreign countries 

e. All of the above 

Question57
Which of the following is false about bureaucratic reform in the United States?

Choose one answer.

a. The bureaucracy has been reformed relatively little throughout history. 

b. A general trend in recent reforms has been to create a smaller bureaucracy. 

c. The Clinton administration attempted to reform the bureaucracy in the 1990s by

 implementing the National Performance Review. 

d. When reforming the bureaucracy, the government has found it is much easier to add new
bureaucratic programs than end them. 

e. Many recent bureaucratic reforms have included privatization of formerly public duties and
the deregulation of industry. 

Question58
Which of the following is NOT a formal or informal source of presidential power?

Choose one answer.

a. The Constitution 

b. Divine right 

c. Precedents set from past presidents 

d. Presidential access to the media 

e. Public support 

Question59
Which of the following is NOT a power granted to Congress in the Constitution?

Choose one answer.

a. To make federal judicial appointments 

b. To collect taxes 

c. To declare war 

d. To regulate interstate commerce 

e. To create inferior courts 

Question60
Which of the following is NOT a requirement stated in the Constitution for being president?

Choose one answer.

a. Being at least 35 years old 

b. Being a member of a political party 

c. Obtaining a majority of the electoral votes in the Electoral College 

 d. Being a natural born citizen 

e. Having resided in the United States for at least 14 years 

Question61
Which of the following presides over the House of Representatives?

Choose one answer.

a. The Speaker of the House 

b. House Minority Leader 

c. The House Majority Whip 

d. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole 

e. The House Pro Temp 

Question62
Which of the following statements below is true of the legislative process?

Choose one answer.

a. Revenue bills must originate in the Senate. 

b. Oversight committees resolve differences between legislation passed in the House and
Senate. 

c. Filibusters in the Senate are used to stop bills from coming to a floor vote. 

d. Each chamber has the same exact standing committees that mark-up legislation. 

e. All of the above 

Question63
Which of the following statements is true about the presidents’ cabinet?

Choose one answer.

a. Members of the cabinet are the secretaries of fifteen executive departments. 

b. The cabinet is a creation of modern presidents. 

c. The existence of a cabinet is mandated in Article II of the Constitution. 

d. The Vice President is the leader of the Cabinet. 

 e. None of the above 

Question64
Which of the following states a major difference between House and Senate procedural operations?

Choose one answer.

a. The House allows unlimited debate on legislation, whereas the Senate has strict time
limitations. 

b. The Senate permits more amendments to bills than does the House. 

c. In the House, the minority party can filibuster a bill and permit it from floor consideration
—a procedural option that is not allowed in the Senate. 

d. Senate committees always have an equal number of members from both parties,
regardless of minority or majority status. 

e. There are no major procedural differences between the two chambers. 

Question65
Choose the best answer to fill in the blank. ____________ refers to the power of government to take private property for
public use.

Choose one answer.

a. Prior restraint 

b. Eminent domain 

c. Double jeopardy 

d. Selective incorporation 

e. Habeas corpus 

Question66
Fill in the blank. The defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1982 had a devastating impact on the civil rights efforts of
________________.

Choose one answer.

a. African Americans 

b. Hispanic Americans 

c. Jewish Americans 

d. Women 
 e. Homosexuals 

Question67
In the First Amendment, which clause creates “a wall of separation between church and state”?

Choose one answer.

a. The exclusionary clause 

b. The free-exercise clause 

c. The freedom of religion clause 

d. The establishment clause 

e. The supremacy clause 

Question68
The 14th Amendment does all of the following EXCEPT:

Choose one answer.

a. Prohibits slavery. 

b. Protects citizens from the abuses of state governments. 

c. Ensures a citizen’s right to privacy. 

d. Ensures citizens equal protection under the law. 

e. Guarantees the right to trial by jury. 

Question69
The Brown v. Board of Education decision (1954) did which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. Established the doctrine of “separate but equal.” 

b. Determined that de jure segregation was legal. 

c. Determined that the doctrine of “separate but equal” was unconstitutional. 

d. Ended the practice of de facto segregation. 

e. Was supported by the majority of the South. 

Question70
The inability of the government to censor a work before it is published is known as:
Choose one answer.

a. Pre-emptive censorship. 

b. National security protective status. 

c. Prior restraint. 

d. Writ of certiorari. 

e. Due process. 

Question71
The “Lemon Test” is used to do which of the following?

Choose one answer.

a. Determine if the government has violated the “clear and present danger” doctrine 

b. Decide whether or not there is the presence of “symbolic speech” 

c. Determine if the Congress has created a law that is unconstitutional 

d. Decide whether or not the government has unfairly searched without a warrant 

e. Determine if government actions relating to religion are unconstitutional 

Question72
What is the Bill of Rights?

Choose one answer.

a. The first ten amendments to the Constitution 

b. All of the civil liberties and civil rights found in the Constitution 

c. The first national Constitution in the United States 

d. The First Amendment 

e. Legislation passed by Congress to ensure freedoms 

Question73
Which of the following best explains the underlying goal of Affirmative Action?

Choose one answer.

a. To give opportunity to previously oppressed minority groups and women to overcome the
effects of past discrimination 
 b. To overcome the effects of ongoing discrimination within society 

c. To ensure not only equal opportunity but also equal outcome for all 

d. To punish white society for ills of the past 

e. All of the above 

Question74
Which of the following is NOT a freedom protected under the First Amendment?

Choose one answer.

a. Freedom of expression 

b. Freedom to bear arms 

c. The right to peacefully assemble and petition the government 

d. Freedom of religion 

e. Freedom of assembly 

Question75
Which of the following principles made the Bill of Rights applicable to the States?

Choose one answer.

a. Clear and present danger 

b. Necessary and proper clause 

c. Incorporation principle 

d. Checks and balances 

e. Strict scrutiny principle 

Question76
Which of the following represents a true statement about the difference between de facto and de jure segregation?

Choose one answer.

a. De facto segregation has been made illegal, where as de jure has not. 

b. De facto segregation is voluntary, and de jure is government enforced. 

c. De jure segregation has been ruled illegal based on several Supreme Court decisions. 
 d. De facto segregation has a political impact, where as de jure primarily impacts society
economically. 

e. De facto segregation is government enforced, and de jure is voluntary. 

Question77
Which of the following Supreme Court cases established the doctrine of “clear and present danger” when limiting freedom
of expression?

Choose one answer.

a. Texas v. Johnson (1989) 

b. Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) 

c. Schenck v. United States (1919) 

d. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) 

e. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) 

Question78
Which of the following Supreme Court cases established the right to privacy?

Choose one answer.

a. Roe v. Wade (1973) 

b. Loving v. Virginia (1967) 

c. Miranda v. Arizona (1966) 

d. Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Dept. of Health (1989) 

e. Tinker v. Des Moines (1990) 

Question79
Which of the following was a major impact of the Bakke (1978) decision?

Choose one answer.

a. Affirmation Action was no longer considered Constitutional. 

b.